Wow, Jan, what a fascinating post. Such history. As to the original topic, I always thought like Ube. I based the difference between quilt and comforter on loft, not mode of completion. High loft = comforter in my mind. I suspect I came to that reasoning because of down comforters. They are always lofty (which is why they are so wonderfully warm!) and I have never heard a down filled bed covering referred to as anything but a comforter. Also in the 70's when "comforters" were all the rage in bedding, they were always very poofy and lofty. So that is probably how I came to that way of thinking. But that is JMHO.